Brick-handling mechanism



BRICK HANDUMG MECHANJSM. man mm1, :922,

5 SHEETS-SHR? 2.

.I NVEN TOR.

f/Zam/es fmwr A TTORNEYS lfm 9, 1923. LMLIISIYI, IL S. CHURCH. BRICI( HANDLING IVIECHANISII'I.

FILED IAN. I I. 1922. 5 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

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INVENTOR. (dw J. (25am- .4 TTORNEYS HCK HANDUNG MECHANISM. msu mm. al. 1922.

INVENTOR.

` Anomm s SHEETS-mmv s.

Patented Jian. 9, i923.

` STATES wird raranr CHAlRfLES S. CHURCH, 0F WELLINGTON, OHIO, ASS'IGNOR TO CHARLES M. ROSS, 0F

WELLINGTON', OHIO.

BRICK-HANDLING MEGHANISM.

Application filed January 11, 1922. Serial No. 528,510.

T o aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wellington, county of Lorain, and State of Chio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brick-Handling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being lherein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements relate more particularly to mechanism of the class de scribed that is designed to receive the brick as they come from the brick-making machine and convey the same into proper position on the series of racks provided in the drying plant. As need not be explained, the brick, as delivered from the press wherein they are molded, are ldeposited. onto pallets by inverting the mold, whether manually or by suitable mechanical means makes no difference so far as the present invention is concerned. It will also be understood that the means employed for transporting the brick-laden pallets from the press to the drying plant, whether endless conveyors or other mechanism, constitute but angincidental 'feature ofthe present improvements; and the same is true of the drying racks themselvesl The latter, as ordinarily constructed, consist of a series of vertically spaced longitudinally disposed sets of pipes, through which steamn'rvpther heating medium is passed, such sets of pipes forming shelves upon which the metal pallets with the bricks resting thereon are supported during the drying operation.

According to the current practice, the brick-laden pallets are transported to the drying house on suitable trucks and are then transferred by hand to the shelves, and the removal of the bricks when dried is accomplished by a reversal of the operation just described, both such operations involving heavy manualy labor, and the height to which thea racks may be carried is obviously limite One object of the present invention is to provide suitable mechanism partially or wholly automatic in character whereby successive pallets may be received at one end of a-series of such drying racks, be carried '.l'engthwiseof such racks, and be thereon deposited in properly spaced relation. A fulther object is conversely to take up the brick-laden pallets from the racks, carry them to one end thereof and deposit them on suitable conveying mechanism whereon they may be carried to the kiln or elsewhere as desired.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but

one of various mechanical forms in whic the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a typical drying house showing drying racks of the type hereinbefore referred to, and in association therewith my present improved brick-handling mechanism; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on a somewhat larger scale of one such drying rack and mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of such detail, the plane of the sections being -indicated by the line 3-3,

Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing one end of such series of drying racks and associated brick-handling mechanism; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the corresponding end of such racks and mechanism; Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5, butv illustrating the arrangement at the opposite end of the series of drying racks; lar to Fig. 5, but illustrates al modified construction; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of such modified construction similar to that of Fig. 1;-and Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are broken detail views of the same.

In the drying house l, illustrated in crosssection in Fig. 1, two series of racks are shown for receiving and supporting the bricks during the drying stage, each series comprising live horizontally disposed sets of pipes 2. Ithas not been deemed necessary to illustrate such pipes 2 inl detail in each rack since the construction and arrangement thereof is substantially identical and it will be understood of course that the number of racks thus provided in any series may be varied to suit conditions, and particularly the dimensions of the drying house 1, and that the number of series of such Fig. 7 is a view simiracks will similarly vary. The pipes 2 are suitably connected by means of a. header 3 with a steam supply line 4, and other connections (not shown) will be provided for collecting and carrying away the water of condensation.

The number of pipes 2 in each set thereof, whereby the individual shelves are composed, is shown as five, but may be varied in accordance with different ideas of operating practice, but the distance bet-Ween theoutermost pipeswhich determines the width of the individual rack or shelf will be approximately the same as thatl of the pallets 5 whereon the-bricks 6 are carried.

Extending longitudinally of each rack, one located intermediately between the two outermost pipes 2 composing each rack or shelf, and another located wholly without the corresponding side of the rack, are four shallow troughs 10, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. These troughs are supported at intervals on cams 11, xedly mounted on rock shafts 12that are suitably journaled in the framework 13 whereby the pipes 2 and other mechanism associated therewith are supported. Said troughs form, in effect, grooves or guideways, 1n which rest the respective parallel portions of two belts 14 that are preferably of the linked construction shown, a plurality of rollers 15 in the several troughs serving to reduce the friction that would otherwise be encountered in moving the belts through such troughs. At their respective ends the belts 14 pass around horizontal sprocket wheels 16 normally rota` tably supported by collarsy 17 on vertical shafts 18. Each such sprocketv wheel, however, is provided with a pawl 19 on its upper face, adapted in one position? to engag'e, withl a corresponding ratchet whe/'eli 20, non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 will be seen that rotation of theflatter may be made effective to rotatey` any,vv selected sprocket wheel and thus drive the belt or chain 14 that passes therearound. As shown in F ig. 4 (note direction arrows on sprocket wheels 16), the disposition of the teeth on the respective ratchet Wheels 20, associated with the pair of sprocket wheels 16 adjacent the end of each shelf of the drier, is such that the inner laps of the chains 14 that thus pass around said wheels 16 will travel in the same direction, i. e., to the right in the case of the figure in question. It will further be noted that the spacing of the shafts 18 and the disposition of the pa-wls 19 thereon is such as to allow the pallets 5 to pass freely therebetween while resting on` the aforesaid inner laps of belts 14. In other words, the chains serve as an endless conveyor whereby successive pallets received thereon may be carried longitudinally of the corresponding rack or shelf of the drier.

Whenl the belts 14 are required thus to ,Wflier'eby it,

function as a conveyor for the pallets, the troughs 1,0, wherein said belts are supported, are raised by simultaneously rocking the several shafts 12 so as to bring the upper edges of the belts just above the level of the pipes 2; while, on the contrary, when it is desired to have the pallets rest on said pipes, said rock shafts are turned to lower said troughs into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where the upper edges of the belts are a trifie below the level of the pipes. The amount of vertical movement which it is required to impart to the belts or chains 14, in order thus to vary the relation of the pallets :with respect to the pipes, is not very great, and will not interfere with, or require shifting of, the chains on the sprocket wheels 16 of the belts.

For the purpose of receiving and transferring the pallets onto any selected pair of conveyor belts 14, the mechanism shown at the left of Figs. 4 and 5 is provided,'such mechanism consisting in effect of two endless conveyors or elevators 25, between which are pivotally hun@r a series of equidistantly spaced trays 26. 'S-aid trays preferably hang suspended from arms 27 thus pivotally attached to the elevator chains or cables 25 so as to always maintain a horizontal position, whether moving upwardly or downwardly in unison with the respective vertical port-ions of said cables or transversely incidental to the passing of the latter around 4the paired sprocket wheels or sheaves 28 that vertical shafts 18, as by the worm drive 30, l

shaft 31 and bevel gears 32, shown in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of automatically placing the pallets on successive trays 26, a gravity conveyor 35 of the roller type may be utilized, being disposed at the terminus of the endless conveyor 36, such asconstitutes the customary means for carrying the brickladen pallets away from the press. The pallet, upon being discharged .from conveyor 36, will roll down said conveyor 35 until it strikes against a fixed vertical guide 37 disf posed so as to lie adjacent the inner edges of the trays 26. Such guide will serve to hold the pallet until the next tray 26 comes along, when the latter will pick up such pallet, carry the same to the upper limit of the path of travel of elevator 25, thence move it transversely towards the end of the ladja` cent series of drier shelves, and then lower said pallet, all as indicated by direction lines on Fig. 5.

In order to transfer the pallets from successive trays 26 onto a selected drier shelf, another gravity conveyor 38 is conveniently employed, one such conveyor rbeing provided in lconjunction with each shelf of the drier, being pivotally attached to the framework 13 and normally resting in the inoperative position shown in said Fig. 5. The conveyor 38 for the upper shelf,` however, in the figure just referred to, is shown lowered into its operative position where it will be noted that its forward end projects into the path of the descending trays 26, and so serves to remove the pallets therefrom in succession. j

For the purpose of discharging pallets from the drier shelves, an elevator 40, substantially identical in its construction and arrangement with elevator 25, is employed, as shown at the right of Fig. 6. Said elevator 40, in other words, is composed of two endless cables or chains that pass around sheaves 41 and carry a series of trays 42 y adapted to receive successive pallets in the same fashion as tra s 26 "of said first described elevator 25. owever, in the case of elevator 40, the direction in which the elevator moves with respect to the adjacent ends of the drier shelves is the reverse of that of elevator 25. In other words, as indicated by direction arrows in Fig. 6, the.

inner portion of the elevator moves upwardly and the outward portion downwardly. Accordingly, by interposing a suitable gravity conveyor 43, or equivalent device, to receive the pallets as they are discharged from belts 14 associated with any particular shelf of the drier, the outer end of such conveyor 43 projecting into the upward path of,travel of'trays 42, such pallets will roll against a guide or stop 44 and there be held in positionV to be taken up by the successive trays. A. similar gravity conveyor 45, projecting into the downward path of travel of the trays 42 on the outside of the elevator 40, serves to remove such pallets from successive trays and discharge them onto another conveyor 46, or, of course, the pallets may be removed in any other suitable fashion.

In order that the trays 26, in the case of elevator 25 may intersect the delivery end of gravity conveyor 35 and the receiving end of gravity conveyor 38, saidtrays are formed on their respective sides with notches or recesses 26a; and in the case of trays 42 carried by elevator 40, it will be understood that similar notches (not shown) are provided, such notches in each Case rendering it possible for the conveyor to cooperate with the tray, either to deposit a pallet on the latter or remove a pallet therefrom. f

The general mode of operation of my improved handling mechanism slmuld heapparent-from the foregoing descriptlon of the construction and mode of operation of its several component parts. vThe brick-laden pallets are received by elevator' 25 from the conveyor that bears the same from the press, or such pallets may, for that matter, be placed manuall on the successive trays of said elevator. lgepending upon which of the several gravity conveyors 38 has been lowered into operative position with respect to said elevator 2 5, the pallets as they are lowered past the end of the series of drying racks or shelves will be discharged onto the corresponding shelf. rlhe belts 14 associated with such shelf will previously have been set in movement by throwing 1n the pawls 19, whereby the corresponding sprocket wheels 16 are connected to their respective vertical drive shafts 18. The troughs 10, in i which such belts travel, will furthermore be raised by suitably rocking shafts 12 so that the pallets as they are received on the inner laps of the belts will be carried lengthwise alo'ng the shelves without engaging withy the pipes 2. When the proper number of pallets to fill the shelf in question has thus been transferred further movement of the belts 14 associated therewith is stopped by releasingr pawls 16, and the transfer of the pallets to Vanother shelf is begun by dropping into operating position the corresponding gravity conveyor 38. 'l'Fhe pallets on the filled shelf or rack are then lowered into contact with the pipes 2 by reversely rocking shafts 12, as has hereinbefore been fully set forth. In order to insure the close spacing of the pallets when thus placed on a shelf for drying, it is necessary in the first place that the ratio between the rate of movement of elevator 25 and that of belts 14 be correctly established by correctly proportioning the driving connections between shaft 29 and the two shafts 18, due regard being had to the diameter of sheaves 28 and that of sprocket wheels 16. In order, however, to guard against the contingency that pallets may not be regularly supplied by conveyor 36, or other means provided for this purpose, to the ascending trays of elevator 25, I may utilize the automatic stop mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 9 wherein othermodifications in construction are at the same time illustrated. l

These further modifications comprise in the first place an alternative construction of means for moving a series of pallets longitudinally along the several shelves of the drier and depositing same thereon. As best shown in Figs. 8, 10 and 11, instead of carrying the pallets directly on the inner par- 11 on shafts 12 engage with the troughs 1() ofthe previous described construction. The rollers 50 are spaced closely enough together so that a pallet 5 received thereon lmay be readily moved from one end to the other of the shelf, such movement being clear of the pipes 2 composing the-shelf Ywhen the rollers are in elevated position. However, upon allowing the rollers to drop the pallets will be lowered into contact with said pipes. For the purpose of'moving the pallets along the roller tracks thus provided, two endless link-belts 54 are employed corresponding with such previously1 described belts 14 in their general disposition, the respective parallel portions of such belts being supported on angle bars 55, or equivalent guides, which do not require to be vertically movable as in the case of troughs 10. At suitable intervals said belts are provided with outwardly projecting lugs 56, so disposed as to engage with successive pallets resting on said rollers 50 when the latter are in their elevated position. In order to retain the belt on the angle bars, clips 57, as shown in Fig. 11,- are utilized.

At their respective ends belts 54 pass around horizontally disposed sprocket wheels 6() journaled on vertically disposed shafts 61. Connected with each sprocket wheel is a worm gear 62 adapted to be .driven by a worm 63 on a horizontal shaft 64. Such worms are fiXedly secured to their respective shafts, and adjacent each is a sprocket wheel that is normally freely rotatable upon the corresponding shaft, but is adapted to be non-rotatably locked thereto bya clutch 66. The worms and worm gears on each shaft 64 for driving the respective belts 54 are arranged to thus drive the same in opposite directions so that their inner parallel portions will always travel in the same direction. For driving sprocket wheels 65 a sprocket chain 67 is `passed around the same in series, as shown in Fig. 7, such sprocket chain also passing around a driving sprocket wheel 68 on the lower shaft 69 of the elevator 70.

The elevator in the present case corresponds in general with elevator 25, as shown in Fig. 5, except that itis carried in a towerlike struct-ure 71 movably mounted on wheels 72 so that the same elevator may be shifted into operative position with any number of tiers of drying shelves, it being understood that sprocket chain 67 will be thrown off or on sprocket'wheel 68, as occasion may demand, incidentally to shifting the position of said conveyor 70.

- vIt will be understood of course that conveyor 36, as well as ravity conveyor 35, may

be readily shiftab y supported; in fact,

they are generally thus supported in a brickmaking plant so as to enable the product to delivered at .various points .as required.

connection with the shftable towertype conveyor just described, as previously indicated, an automatic stop mechanism for controlling the operation of the elevator is incorporated, such Stop mechanism consisting of a depending trip arm 75 pivotally attached to the tower 71 adjacent the ascending portion of the elevator and in position to be engaged by a brick-laden pallet as delivered by said conveyor 35. The lower end of trip arm 75 is connected with a throw-out- 76 that is adapted in one position, i. e., that corresponding with the freely hanging position of the arm, to engage and throw out driving pawls 77 on a disk 78, whereby the elevator sheaves are adapted to be driven from shaft 69. Whenever a pallet is resting against said trip arm, said throw-out device is rendered inoperative so that the movement 4of the elevator will be uninterrupted, but should a pallet fail to be delivered for each ascending tray of the conveyor the latter will be automatically stopped and held inoperative until one is delivered. The number of pawls or equivalent connections between the driving disk and elevator sheave will of course depend upon the relation between the space between successive trays and the diameter of said sheave.

I also show in connection with such towertype elevator a modified form ofconveyor for transferring pallets from the descending portion of the elevator to a-selected shelf of the drier. In other words, instead of providing a series of gravity conveyors 38, as shown in Fig. 5,`one for each such shelf, which may be thrown into operative or inoperative position with respect to the elevator, as desired, I provide a single such gravity conveyoi` that is movable up or down the elevator tower 71 into co-operative relation with any selected shelf. The operation of such conveyor 80, as well as of the elevator in general, and of the modified construction of conveyor belts whereby the trays are moved along the several shelves and deposited thereon, is substantially the same as that of the first described construction of my improved mechanism, and will'` not require to be again set forth in detail.

In place of employing a separate elevator 40 to discharge the pallets from the drier shelves, the same elevator 25 may obviously be employed for this purpose asis used for delivering the pallets to such shelves. In such case it will merely be necessary to provide for a reversal in the direction of movement of the elevator and in the direction of movement of the belts 14, and for the substitution Vof outwardly inclined gravity conveyors similar to conveyors 43 for the inwardly inclined conveyors 38. As a matterl of fact, the latter will most conveniently be. made so that the direction of their inclination can be reversed when the pallets are to be discharged.

The particular point at which the ascending portion of elevator 25receives the brick-laden pallets, or the point at which the descending portion of elevator 4Q discharges such pallets, may of course be varied, to suit the particular occasion, anywhere within the limits of the height of such elevator. It is also a matter of choice whether a separate elevator mounted permanently in front of each series or tier of drying shelves is utilized as first described above, or a single elevator mounted on a movable truck or carriage whiohmay be brought into operative relation with such series or tier of shelves when required for use in connection therewith, as shown inl Fig. 7. The latter arrangement will of course s implifyv the amount of machinery involved and correspondingly decrease the cost of equipping a plant.

Other modes of applying the principle Vof my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims orv the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination with a drying shelf, of means adapted-to move a series of pallets longitudinally along said shelf and deposit same thereon, and means adapted to deliver such pallets to said first-named means at one end of said shelf. y

2. The combination with a tier of drying shelves, of means adapted to move a series of pallets longitudinally along each shelf and deposit same thereon, and means adapted to deliver such pallets individually to said first-named means at the end of any selected shelf.

3. The combination with a drying shelf, of means adapted to move a series of pallets longitudinally along each shelf and deposit same thereon, means adapted to deliver such pallets individually to said first-named means at one end of any selected shelf, and other means adapted to receive and discharge such pallets from said first-named means at the other end of said shelf.

-.-1. '.lhe combination with a tier of drying shelves, of means adapted to move a series of pallets longitudinally valong` each shelf and deposit same thereon, means adapted to deliver such pallets individually to said first-named means at the end of any selected shelf, and other means adapted to receive and discharge such pallets from the other end of any selected shelf.

5. The combination with a drying shelf, of a conveyor movable longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, and means adapted to depress or elevate said conveyor relatively to said shelf, so as tp deposit such palletsl 6. The combination with a drying shelf,v

of a conveyor movable longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, said conveyor comprising two longitudinally disposed belts having portions disposed yadjacent said shelf `and extending longitudinally thereof, means adapted to drive said belts in unison with such portions thereof moving in the same direction, and means adapted to depress or elevate such portions relatively to said shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear thereof as desired.

' 7. The combination with a drying shelf, of a conveyor movable longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, said conveyor comprising two longitudinally disposed belts having portions disposed adjacent said shelf and eX- tendinglongitudinally thereof, means adapted to drive said belts in unison with such portions thereof moving inthe same direction, troughs wherein such portions travel, and means adapted to vary the elevation of said troughs relatively to said shelf, so as to support said conveyor below or above the level of the latter as desired.

8. The combination with a. drying shelf, of a conveyor movable longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, said conveyor comprising two longitudinally disposed belts having y portions disposed adjacent said shelf and extending longitudinally thereof, means adapted to drive said belts in unison with such portions thereof moving in the same direction, troughs wherein such portions travel, rollers in thebottoms of said troughs, and means adapted to vary the elevation of said troughs relatively to said shelf, so as to support said conveyor below or above the level`of the bottom of the latter as desired.

9. The combination with a drying shelf, of a conveyor movable longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, said conveyorycomprising two longitudinally disposed belts having portions disposed adjacent said shelf and eX- tending longitudinally thereof, means adapted to drive said belts in unison with such portions thereof moving in the same direction, troughs wherein such portions travel, rollers in the bottoms of said troughs, rocker shafts disposed transversely of said troughs, and cams on said shafts enga ging said troughs whereby rocking of said shafts serves to vary the elevation of said troughs relatively to said shelf, so as to support said conveyor below or above the level of the latter as desired.

10. The combination with a tier of drying shelves, of a conveyor movable longitudinally of each of said shelves and adapted t0 receive and support a series of pallets', means adapted to depress or elevate each conveyor relatively to the .corresponding shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear ,thereof as desired, an elevator located adjacent to one end of said tier of shelves adapted to receive individual pallets and carry same past said shelves, and means adapted to transfer pallets from said elevator to the conveyor of any selected shelf.

11. The combination With a tier of drying shelves, of a conveyor movable longitudinally of each of. said shelves and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, means adapted to depress 'or elevate each conveyor relatively to the corresponding shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear thereof as desired, an elevator located adjacent to one end of said tier of shelves adapted to receive individual pallets and carry same past said shelves, and means adapted to transfer pallets from said elevator to the conveyor of any selected shelf, said elevator and conveyors being intei-geared so as to move at predetermined relative speeds.

l'12. The combination With a tier of drying shelves, of a conveyor movable longitudinally of each of said shelves and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, means adapted to depress or elevate each conveyor relatively to the corresponding shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear thereof as desired, an elevator located adjacent to one end of said tier of shelves adapted to receive individual pallets and carry same past said shelves, nieansadapted to transfer pallets from said elevator to the conveyor of any selected shelf, and means adapted to intergear said elevator With said conveyors individually.

13. The combination With a tier of drying shelves, of a conveyor movable longitudinally of each of said shelves and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, means adapted to depress or elevate each conveyor relatively to the corresponding shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear thereof as desired, an elevator located` adjacent to one end of said tier of shelves adapted to receive individual pallets and carry same past said shelves, and means adapted to transfer pallets from the conveyor to any selected shelf and transfer same to said elevator.

14. The combination with a tier of drying -l shelves, of a conveyor movable longitudi nally of each of said shelves and adapted to receive and support a series of pallets, means adapted to depress or elevate each conveyor relatively to the corresponding shelf, so as to deposit such pallets thereon or carry same clear thereof as desired, an elevator located adjacent to one end of said tier of shelves adapted to receive individual pallets and carry same past said shelves, means adapted to transfer pallets from said elevator to the conveyor of any selected shelf, and other means adapted to remove and discharge said'pallets from said elevator. x l

15. The combination With a tier of drying shelves, of means associated With each of said shelves adapted to move a series of pallets along and deposit same on said shelf, an elevator located adjacent one end of said tier of shelves and adapted to receive in dividual pallets and carry same past said shelves, means adapted to transfer pallets from said elevator to said first-named means associated with any selected shelf, and other means adapted to deliver pallets to said elevator, said last-named means being interconnected vvith said elevator to render same inoperative except upon delivery of a pallet thereto.

16. The combination With a tier of drying shelves, of means associated With each of said shelves adapted to move a series of pallets along anddeposit same on said shelf, an elevator located adjacent one end of said tierv of shelvesl and adapted 'to receive individual pallets and carry same past said.

shelves, means adapted to transfer .pallets from said elevator to said first-named means associated with any selected shelf, and other means adapted to deliver pallets to said elevator, said last-named means being interconnected With saidA elevator to render same inoperative except upon delivery of a pallet thereto and said first-named means being interconnected with said elevator so as to operate at a predetermined speed relatively thereto.

Signed by me, this 2nd day of January, 1922.

CHARLES s. CHURCH." 

